Lincoln Electric IM528-B manual TIG Welding Information

OPERATION

TIG WELDING INFORMATION

TABLE 14

TYPICAL CURRENT RANGES (1) FOR TUNGSTEN ELECTRODES (2)

				AC			Approximate Argon
							Gas Flow Rate
	DCEN ( - )	DCEP ( + )	Unbalanced Wave		Balanced Wave
							C.F.H. (1/min.)
			1%, 2%		1%, 2%
Tungsten
Electrode	1%, 2%	1%, 2%		Thoriated		Thoriated			TIG Torch
Diameter	Thoriated	Thoriated	Pure	Tungsten	Pure	Tungsten		Stainless	Nozzle
in. (mm)	Tungsten	Tungsten	Tungsten	Zirconiated	Tungsten	Zirconiated	Aluminum	Steel	Size (4), (5)

.010	(.25)	2-15	(3)	2-15	2-15	2-15	---	3-8	(2-4)	3-8	(2-4)	#4, #5, #6
0.020	(.50)	5-20		5-15	5-20	10-20	5-20	5-10	(3-5)	5-10	(3-5)
			(3)
0.040	(1.0)	15-80		10-60	15-80	20-30	20-60	5-10	(3-5)	5-10	(3-5)
			(3)
1/16	(1.6)	70-150	10-20	50-100	70-150	30-80	60-120	5-10	(3-5)	9-13	(4-6)	#5, #6
3/32	(2.4)	150-250	15-30	100-160	140-235	60-130	100-180	13-17 (6-8)		11-15	(5-7)	#6, #7, #8
1/8	(3.2)	250-400	25-40	150-210	225-325	100-180	160-250	15-23 (7-11)		11-15 (5-7)
5/32	(4.0)	400-500	40-55	200-275	300-400	100-240	200-320	21-25 (10-12)		13-17	(6-8)	#8, #10
3/16	(4.8)	500-750	55-80	250-350	400-500	190-300	290-390	23-27 (11-13) 18-22(8-10)
1/4	(6.4)	750-1000	80-125	325-450	500-630	250-400	340-525	28-32 (13-15)		23-27(11-13)

(1)When used with argon gas. The current ranges shown must be reduced when using argon/helium or pure helium shielding gasses.

(2)Tungsten electrodes are classified as follows by the American Welding Society (AWS): Pure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EWP

1% Thoriated . . . . . . . . EWTh-1 2% Thoriated . . . . . . . . EWTh-2

Though not yet recognized by the AWS, Ceriated Tungsten is now widely accepted as a substitute for 2% Thoriated Tungsten in AC and DC applications.

(3)DCEP is not commonly used in these sizes.

(4)TIG torch nozzle “sizes” are in multiples of 1/16ths of an inch:

#4	= 1/4 in.	(6 mm)
#5	= 5/16 in.	(8 mm)
#6	= 3/8 in.	(10 mm)
#7	= 7/16 in.	(11 mm)
#8	= 1/2 in.	(12.5 mm)
#10	= 5/8 in.	(16 mm)

(5)TIG torch nozzles are typically made from alumina ceramic. Special applications may require lava nozzles, which are less prone to breakage, but cannot withstand high temperatures and high duty cycles.

– 30 – TIG MODULE